melick



(No Model.)

JI Hl MBLIICKI 6 Sheets-Sheet l.

. THRASHING MACHINE. No. 277.595.

Patented May 15|, 1883.

N. PETERS. PhulvLehngmpher. wanhinglun. D. C.

6 sheets-shet 2.

(No Model.)

J.l I-I. MELIGK. THRASHING MAGHINE- No. 277,595. Patented May 15,1883.

MZ M@ N. PETERS. Phom-Lnhagnpher. wnsmngwn. D. c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. H. MELICK.

'THRASHING MACHINE.

No. 277,595. Patented May 15,1883.

(No Model.) Y6 sheets-sheet 4.

.- J. H. MELIGK,

TERASHING MACHINE. No. 277,595. Patented May 15,1883.

N. PETERS. Phowmhogmphar. wmmgmn. D. c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. H. MELIOK.

THRASHING MACHINE.

No. 277,595. ,Pafented May 15 1883.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

J. H. MBLIGK.

THRASHING MACHINE.

No. 277,595. Patented-May 15,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. MELIGK, 0F ALBANY, NEW YORK.

THRASHING-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,595, dated May 15, 1883. Application filed Oct0ber131882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMEs H. MELIcK, a citt zen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of Albany, in the State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Thrashing-Machine, of which the following is a full and clear description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a new and improved thrashing-machine in which is provided a single thrashing-cylinder which is capable of operation at will with either a spike-concave for short-straw thrashing or a rubbing-concave for long-straw thrashing, and mechanism for separating the thrashed grain from the straw and chaff when the thrashingcylinder is operating with either of said eoncaves.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine having but a single thrashing-cylinder, and mechanism for separating vand winnowing the grain,which will be capable,by the provision ot' two concaves, to operate either as a long or short straw th rasher and cleaner at will, and perform the different kinds of grainthrashing now required to be done by two ditferent machiues. I attain this object by means ofthe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which thesame letters of ret'- erence indicate the same or correspond i n g parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represen ts a side elevation ot' my new and improved thrashing-machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale. of the guard ofthe couveyer pulley-shaft. Fig. 4 is a plan view trom above ot' the machine with portions broken away to expose parts below. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken at line No. l in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a crosssection`al view taken at line No. 2 in Fig. l. Fig. A7 is a cross-sectionalview taken at line No. 3 in Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view the thrashing cylinder, illustrating improvements in the same. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional View of part of a thrashing-cylinder, illustrating a defect and result of wear in the old form of thrashingcylinders, which is remedied by one of my improvements.

In the drawings, A A represent the frame work of the machine. The said frame-work is stiffened by trusses B B', B B', each located .will be set with a width of track ot' part ofV within the said frame-work ata short distance from the side posts of the frame, and arranged longitudinally with the same, and firmly secured to the bottom girts, A A', by bolts or clips, or other equivalents. The said trusses` have their ends extended outward past the ends of the frame, and operate to stiffen'the whole structure, and also serve as supports or bearingbeams to the same, from the rear axle, C, at one end, and the bolsterO of the front axle at the other end. By reason of their situation within the side parts ot' the frame, the axles C C of the carriageare ina-de shorter between their shoulders, so that the carrying-wheels corresponding with that of the road over which the machine will be drawn when being transported on its wheels from place to place.

D is the thrashingcylinder, shown in Figs. 1 and 8, with its peripheral surface provided with metal strips D', so formed as to adapt said cylinder to be used for operating with a spiked or short-straw concave, E, or with a rubbing or long-straw concave, E. rlhe said cylinder is formed of staves l)2 in the manner practiced by the trade, and is provided with longitudinal grooves a, which receive flange a', made with one oii the marginal edges of metal strips ID', as shown in Fig. 8. The said metal strips are preferably made in sections, and have their bodies extended outward from the peripheral surface of the stave-section ot the cylinder about onehalf of one inch., more or less, and are made in their cross-sectional forni with the rubbing-surface l on a curved line about concentric with the line ot' curvature ot' the surface e of the body ot' cylinder D, andare then inclined downward from said surface-line d to one of their edges, (1', at line c ofthe cylinder, as shown in Fig. 8. The opposite edge, (l2,

is made blunt or squared, and with an extent of surface equal to the projection ot' said curved rubbing-surface d from the curvature of the said cylinder, as shown in the same figure.

These strips are securely fastened to the staves of the cylinder in the usual manner. When cylinder' D is revolved in lthe direction of' arrow l the thrashing-cylinder will operate with the spike-concave E, the teeth of which concave just clearsur'ace d ot the metal strips D and serve as a short-straw cylinder. When revolved in the direction of arrow 2 said cylinder will operate with the rubbing-concave E as a rubbing or long-straw cylinder. The portions e ofthe surface of the wood of cylinder Dbetween the metal strips D' are sheathed faces and the undermining of strips D', which are gradually and invariably produced by use. By the sheathin gs e' between the metal thrashing-strips D the surface of the cylinder between the metal thrashing-strips is protected from wear, and the cylinder will not get out of balance by the wood being une'venly worn away, as heretofore, and all undermining of the bed of the said thrashing-strips is pre'- vented.

of the machine.

E is a spike or short-straw concave, made in the u-sual manner practiced by the trade. E' is a rubbing or long-straw concave, made of independently and elastically lsupported bars f, faced with metallic rubbing-strips, as is generally practiced by the trade. The said bars are supported from their outer ends from the concave end plates, E2, one at each side v E4 are the elastic supports of the barsf. Cast solid with each concave end plate is a'pendent bracket, E3, made with an offset from the plane of the vertical sides of said plate, as shown in Fiv. 6. The lower end portions of said brackets are each provided with a short slot, g, through which works a set-bolt, g', firmly secured to the frame-timber and provided with a screwthreaded nut, as shown. Cast solid also with said plates E2 are ears h h, which ears are each pierced with a screw-threaded hole and provided with adjusting-screws h. The said adjusting-screws have their ends working into recesses made in the timbers of the frame of the machine, and when turned in one direction elevate the rubbing-concave E' and when turned in an opposite direction lower the same, and they operate as feet to support the said concave from rocking, and serve as a means for .nicely adjusting the rubbing-concave in proper relation to the thrashing-cylinder D, or with one side edge nearer to it than the other, as the circumstances of the work may require. They also enable me to dispense with the stops heretofore employed and secured to the inner side surface of the frame in inconvenient situation for perfect adjustment. By offsetting the slotted bracket E3 of the end plates, E2, of the rubbing-concave, I am enabled to use a wide separator with a narrower frame-work than heretofore.

Firmly secured and supported by posts or standards from the frame of the machine at the head ends of the thrashing-cylinder D is the spike-concave E, which spike-concave is arranged over the upper quarterof the said cylinder, as shown. Arran ged over said spikeconcave E is a horizontal deiiecting-board, G, and guard G', (shown in Figs. 1 and 2,) which board and guard operate to cast the grain and straw downward on the upper door ofthe separator when the cylinder D is revolved in direction of arrow l and operating as a shortstraw-thrashing cylinder.

H is a platform from which the grain-straw is fed to the thrashing-cylinder. When the thrashing-cylinder is to be used as a rubbing or iong-straW-thrashing cylinder it will be revolved in direction of arrow2 in Figs. 2 and 8, and when used as a short-straw-thrashing cylinder the cylinder will be revolved in direction of arrow] in Fig. 2. The reversing of the direction of revolution of the thrashingcylinder is done by running the band giving motion to the drive-pulley straight in one instance and crossed in the other; or it may be done by any other well-known means.

F is the fan-blower, constructed and operated as heretofore practiced by the trade.

L is an-inclined separator, made with awidth corresponding with the length of thethrashing-cylinder, and arranged with its forward end below the rubbing-concave E', as shown, and extending rearward and upward. At the front end, andbelow the rubbing-concave, is arranged on shaft j (which is free to be revolved) a series of three or more small pulleys, I. Arranged on shaftj, at the rear end of said separator, is a corresponding number of pulleys, I. Motion is communicated to pulleys I' by means of a band and pulley actuated from a pulleypon the thrashingcylinder shaft or the fan-shaft, as may be preferred. J is an endless Slat-apron, which passes over pulleys I and I', with its uppermost portion moving` over the inclined grain-board k 7c', the plane ofthe upper surface of which board is on aline with the upper side of pulleys I and I', and is made in its portion 7c solid or imperforated and its portion 7c' perforated, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The endless Slat-apron, after passing over the rear end pulley, I', is turned downward and forward, and is run over the surface of the lower inclined grain-board, l, which is made with a solidor tight surface in its major` portion, excepting at the middle of its length, where there is arranged a grated opening, M, composed of a series of slats or strips, m, about one foot in length, arranged lengthwise in the said grain-board, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Suspended by hangers N N from the sides ofthe rearward portion of the separator is a vibrating inclined grain-board, 0, made with an imperforate or solid surface, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This vibrating grain-board is situated below the perforated portieri k' of the upper grain-board of the separator and on a plane above that of the inclined grain-board Z, as shown in the same figures. Secured at the rear end of grain-board l, and below the upper surface of the same, at each side, is a curved convex way, p, made with a short length :for receiving and leading the slack of the endless IOS IIO

` and dotted lines in Fig'. l.

slatted apron J from pulley I to the upper surface of said grain-board. The grain-boardO is shown to be vibrated by means of pitman g, levers q', pivoted to brackets q2, secured to the frame ot' the machine, and actuated by bars g3, attached to the upper sieve-shoe, S.

Sieve-shoes S and S are arranged below the lower grain-board, l, and beneath the opening M, made in said board, and are supported one above tue other by levers r, which levers have pivoted connection at their ends with said shoes, as shown in Figs. l and 7. The said levers are pivoted at a point between their ends to brackets or hangers n n, which are secured to timbers n a', as shown in Figs. l and 7. Being thus suspended, the shoes S and S are adapted to be vibrated in the reverse directions. Motion is communicated to shoes S and S by means of pitmen s s', actuated by eccentrics t1., secured to shaft T of the fan- 4wheel F. The shoes S S. are made of considerably less width than the grain-boards of the separator above, as is shown 4in Fig. 7. The upper shoe, S, has attached to its outer sides grainboards au, Figs. l, 5, and 7, which grainboards extend outward past the sides of the separator above, and are so arranged as to be beneath the grated opening M of the lower grain-board, Z, as shown in Fig. 2, and they operate to receive the grain falling down from the end portions of the grated opening M and conduct the same to shoe S, and, being connected with said shoe, the said Vboards are vibrated longitudinally in the same direction as is said shoe.

The fan-wheel F and its drum and discharge are made with the same width as shoes S and S', into which it discharges the blast. By contracting the width of both the fan-wheel and the shoe to a width less than that of the separator and the length of the thrashing-cylinder, or by making the separator of greater width and the thrashing-cylinder of greater length than the width of the shoe and fan-wheel, the grain-straw will be more effectually operated with by the thrashing-cylinder, and will be more thinly distributed on the upper surfaces of the grain-boards of the separator, while the grain and chaff' will be received in the shoes in a more compact form of measure for better operation for cleaning the chaff from the grain than it would be if the shoe were made with the saine width as the separator.

If preferred, the vibrating grain-board O may be operated directly by an eccentric or crank and a connecting-rod independently of the mechanism before described.

y The rear end or section of the inclined separator L is hinged by hinges H to the front or main portion of the same, so as to adapt the said rear section and its attached grain-board O to be folded upward and over the body of the machine in direction as indicated by arrow Preliminary to the folding over of said rear portion the pitmau q will be disconnected from the grain-board O. This adaptation of the rearward section of the said shaft and connects'with the forward end ot' the upper grain-board k., rllhis guard effectually prevents straw from being wound around the shaft of`pulleys I.

The several parts of the machine for thrashing the grain, conveying the straw rearward, and separating the thrashed grain from the straw and the chaff are preferably speeded by means of band-wheels and pulleys secured to the shafts of the respective revolving parts, so that the several parts operating will operate in concert each with proper relative speed of movement.

By means of the mechanism shown and de scribed as above Iam enabled to produce a convertible machine for thrashing and cleaning all kinds of grain and delivering the thrashed straw in proper condition for either sheaving or baling, as may be preferred, and in doing this the machine is made lighter and ,more simple and economical in the construction of its parts.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with the spike-concave E and thc rubbing-concave E', ot' thecylinder D, provided with ribbed metallic strips D', having rounded edge d and squared edge d?, substantially as described, whereby when the cylinder is revolved in one direction it is adapted to operate as a toothed cylinder and when revolved in "an opposite direction it op crates as a grooved cylinder, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the grain-board k 7c', of the shaker-board O, situated beneath the outer end, k', of said board, and the stationary board l, situated beneath the inner end, k, of said board, and provided with slatted dischargeopening M, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, with the folding lsec tion It" of the separator, of the reciprocating grain-board O, attached to said folding section, detachable pitman q, and means tor op erating the same, substantially as described.

4. In a thrashing-machine, the combination, with the thrashing mechanism, of the separator consisting ot' immovable section 7c l, the latter provided with slatted opening M, the folding section lr', provided with swinging grain-board O, the endless straw-carrier J, and means for operating the various parts, sul stantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

Witnesses: JAMES H. MELICK.

RICHARD D. DUMARY, WM. W. DIAMOND.

IlO 

